January 14, 201511 yr QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jan 14, 2015 -> 09:38 AM) Noob question why is an extension worse than being signed as a FA? It's better for the team (the Sox in this case) because they'll get the first chance to sign him to a longer deal. It's not as good for the player because he'll most likely get less (years and/or money) than if he pursues free agency. We can only hope that the Sox have a good year and Samardzija likes it here. The Sox would have a better chance to extend him.
January 14, 201511 yr QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jan 14, 2015 -> 09:48 AM) It's better for the team (the Sox in this case) because they'll get the first chance to sign him to a longer deal. It's not as good for the player because he'll most likely get less (years and/or money) than if he pursues free agency. We can only hope that the Sox have a good year and Samardzija likes it here. The Sox would have a better chance to extend him. Also, if the player thinks he risks having a bad season or getting hurt, he might give up the extra years and money to get something guaranteed sooner. A little like insurance.
January 14, 201511 yr I think that in the best possible case scenario, this is what happens: Sox are winning or in the hunt some time after the All Star Break and/or Jeff is pitching well. Jeff discovers that he loves it here and would like to stay. Sox offer him a contract somewhere between Lester and whatever Shields gets, and he signs. Even a union person understands the value of not having to move away from your current home for a new job, especially if the job offer is fair. The Sox cannot afford to try and lowball him and upset him, and I don't think that they will. I'd rather this scenario play out then go into the free agent market next offseason needing to sign one of the top pitchers. Edited January 14, 201511 yr by South Sider
January 14, 201511 yr QUOTE (South Sider @ Jan 14, 2015 -> 11:20 AM) I think that in the best possible case scenario, this is what happens: Sox are winning or in the hunt some time after the All Star Break and/or Jeff is pitching well. Jeff discovers that he loves it here and would like to stay. Sox offer him a contract somewhere between Lester and whatever Shields gets, and he signs. Even a union person understands the value of not having to move away from your current home for a new job, especially if the job offer is fair. The Sox cannot afford to try and lowball him and upset him, and I don't think that they will. I'd rather this scenario play out then go into the free agent market next offseason needing to sign one of the top pitchers. He lives in Arizona.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Jan 14, 2015 -> 01:32 PM) He lives in Arizona. And why not? Haha. Well there goes that potential hometown discount. I was under the impression he still resided in the area.
January 15, 201511 yr Ballplayers typically have a home in a warm weather climate (Arizona, Florida, etc.) and one in their teams' home city. I lived in the same building as Jake Peavy for six months and he's well known for his sprawling complex in Alabama. I don't believe teams pay for hotels on home games so it's a good decision to buy property, particularly in Chicago where with enough starting capital they're near assured to have the property build value if/when they decide to sell. The offseason house in AZ is pretty irrelevant, it's just a place to spend offseason because you can train year-round and not being able to enjoy summer weather through your 20's and 30's without having one of the craziest work schedules of any job kinda sucks.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 13, 2015 -> 10:51 AM) At the same time, the Sox last 2 second round picks look like absolutely phenomenal prospects at this juncture, and those picks occur after the compensatory round. It'd be a ways out. At the very, bare minimum, it's a safeguard. Is "absolutely phenomenal" really the correct verbage? Adams was nothing special last year, and while Danish has been good, he's still at WS. Let's hold off on absolutely phenomenal for now.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jan 15, 2015 -> 05:34 AM) Is "absolutely phenomenal" really the correct verbage? Adams was nothing special last year, and while Danish has been good, he's still at WS. Let's hold off on absolutely phenomenal for now. 59 strikeouts and 4 walks for an 18 year old would be phenomenal even if it was high school.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jan 14, 2015 -> 10:34 PM) Is "absolutely phenomenal" really the correct verbage? Adams was nothing special last year, and while Danish has been good, he's still at WS. Let's hold off on absolutely phenomenal for now. Adams was ridiculous after being drafted.
January 15, 201511 yr With the amount of big-money pitchers that will be available next year, it may be in Jeff's interest to sign an extension with the Sox. There are only so many teams that can afford the big contracts. And if he goes to FA, there will be at l;east 6 pitchers all looking for that big money. Who's going to pay it? You can always find one or two stupid clubs, but now you have to find 6. Its going to be a numbers game, and it may actually favor the Sox for once.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 15, 2015 -> 08:35 PM) With the amount of big-money pitchers that will be available next year, it may be in Jeff's interest to sign an extension with the Sox. There are only so many teams that can afford the big contracts. And if he goes to FA, there will be at l;east 6 pitchers all looking for that big money. Who's going to pay it? You can always find one or two stupid clubs, but now you have to find 6. Its going to be a numbers game, and it may actually favor the Sox for once. not for the yrs he wants. there will teams willing to spend that money next yr. this yr, the major teams are really trying to load up, maybe more than necessary. the reason is, i think it is b/c of the sox. what the sox have done was to silently improve themselves so much, that other teams are to play catch up. look at their lineup, look at the first 3 in their rotation, the #4 and 5 pitchers, don't forget Rodon being groomed in the wings. this sox team is very Dangerous now. that is why i am sooo excited.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 15, 2015 -> 01:43 PM) not for the yrs he wants. there will teams willing to spend that money next yr. this yr, the major teams are really trying to load up, maybe more than necessary. the reason is, i think it is b/c of the sox. what the sox have done was to silently improve themselves so much, that other teams are to play catch up. look at their lineup, look at the first 3 in their rotation, the #4 and 5 pitchers, don't forget Rodon being groomed in the wings. this sox team is very Dangerous now. that is why i am sooo excited. I share your enthusiasm, I just think with over a dozen pitchers looking for $10mil+ per year, the market will be a little tight.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 15, 2015 -> 09:07 PM) I share your enthusiasm, I just think with over a dozen pitchers looking for $10mil+ per year, the market will be a little tight. and b/c of the sox have improve, many teams will be force to pay that outrageous price. this strategy, while unintended, are going to force team to overreact and pay some big time money.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jan 14, 2015 -> 10:34 PM) Is "absolutely phenomenal" really the correct verbage? Adams was nothing special last year, and while Danish has been good, he's still at WS. Let's hold off on absolutely phenomenal for now. Yes, "absolutely phenomenal" is correct. Adams and Danish are both probably top 5 prospects in a rapidly improving system.
January 15, 201511 yr Reasons to be optimistic about an extension for Jeff. #1, the Cubs offer was awful. There was no good reason for him to sign it. We don't know how he would react to a realistically competitive offer. #2, after spending time in Oakland, he had some pretty pointed comments about the organization in his press conference. After being somewhere like that, it might leave a lasting impact about not wanting to be somewhere like that, making him more likely than he was before to consider signing long term. #3, he is back "home", and really seemed genuinely happy to be here. There is something to be said for familiarity. #4, There is a lot of room between what the Cubs offered, and where the apparent market rates are for the Sox and Jeff to come to some sort of agreement. #5, the White Sox have done some long term deals for starting pitchers they believe in. #6, there is room for Jeff to sign a big deal early and it still set a nice precedence for early signing deals, that would still set a new market rate. There aren't a lot of those type of deals signed, so a 5/110 deal would still have a use to the union.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jan 14, 2015 -> 10:34 PM) Is "absolutely phenomenal" really the correct verbage? Adams was nothing special last year, and while Danish has been good, he's still at WS. Let's hold off on absolutely phenomenal for now. If 12.7 K/9, .9 BB/9 and 14.75 K/BB at age 18 is nothing special, I can't wait to see what he is going to do when he figures it out.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 15, 2015 -> 02:31 PM) Yes, "absolutely phenomenal" is correct. Adams and Danish are both probably top 5 prospects in a rapidly improving system. As someone who doesn't follow the minors that close, other than looking at stats, is Danish still using that 3/4, slide step quick delivery that he was in high school or have the Sox changed it?
January 15, 201511 yr Did I just read that Spencer Adams was "nothing special last year"?? In 41 innings, he struck out 59 batters and only walked 4. I can't even do that in my Road To The Show career. That's a 14.75 K/BB rate. That's unbelievable, and a little more than just special.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 15, 2015 -> 02:35 PM) With the amount of big-money pitchers that will be available next year, it may be in Jeff's interest to sign an extension with the Sox. There are only so many teams that can afford the big contracts. And if he goes to FA, there will be at l;east 6 pitchers all looking for that big money. Who's going to pay it? You can always find one or two stupid clubs, but now you have to find 6. Its going to be a numbers game, and it may actually favor the Sox for once. Any deal that's team-friendly enough for you and I to feel comfortable with is a deal that will be EASY for him to land in FA, no matter how many big names are out there. If he gets to the point where people are bidding him up -- the winner, buy definition, will be the first team willing to go high enough that it ISN'T comfortable. Put another way, if his 2015 performance puts him in a position to actually accept 5/110 or something, then that probably means he didn't pitch that well and we'll be afraid to give it to him.
January 15, 201511 yr QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 15, 2015 -> 03:56 PM) Did I just read that Spencer Adams was "nothing special last year"?? In 41 innings, he struck out 59 batters and only walked 4. I can't even do that in my Road To The Show career. That's a 14.75 K/BB rate. That's unbelievable, and a little more than just special. good times!
January 16, 201511 yr The closer they get to arbitration time with Samardjiza, the more I wonder if there is a long term deal being talked about.
January 16, 201511 yr QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 16, 2015 -> 12:28 PM) https://twitter.com/CSNHayes/status/556155677182550016 Avoided arb too Damn, never mind.
January 16, 201511 yr I still think there's a chance he'll sign a long term contract in March. Hopefully his first month with the staff goes well, and he feels like this is where he wants to be in his prime seasons...and the money is right.
January 16, 201511 yr Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS 49s49 seconds ago Phoenix, AZ samardzija settles with chisox at $9.8M Damnit
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